BEREA, Ohio -- On Johnny Manziel day in Berea, news broke that Browns superstar receiver Josh Gordon has failed another drug test and faces banishment from the NFL for at least a year.

Two sources told ESPN's Outside the Lines that Gordon tested positive for marijuana and was informed in early winter. Gordon received a second letter in April notifying him of the pending suspension and his right to appeal, which he's expected to do.

Because Gordon is already believed to be in stage three of the NFL's substance abuse policy, as reported last June by cleveland.com, he faces banishment from the NFL for a minimum of one calendar year. After that, he'd have to apply for re-instatement with Commissioner Roger Goodell. Gordon was suspended for the first two games of last season and docked two other game checks for failing a drug test.

Specifially, he said he tested positive for codeine, which was in his prescribed cough syrup. League insiders wondered if he had gotten caught up in the Purple Drank craze, a concoction that includes cough syrup and dissolved candy.

It was at least his second violation of the substance abuse policy, and
at least his fifth failed drug test since 2010, including three for
marijuana in college.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer opened his day two draft press conference by saying, "I know there's been a lot of shocking - supposedly - news that we're not going to comment on with regards to Josh Gordon. The league has stated what we can and cannot say, so until we have clarity, we're going to remain silent.''

Asked whether he planned to appeal, Gordon said, "I'm going to have to find out about that later. You need to call Drew.''

Rosenhaus, reached by email, declined to comment.

A source told cleveland.com that some high level members of the Browns organization have known about Gordon's failed test for at least a week, well in advance of Thursday night's first round of the draft. The coaches were told late Friday afternoon, the source said.

Apparently it didn't change the Browns' draft strategy. They passed on Clemson star receiver Sammy Watkins, who was available when they traded down from No. 4 to No. 9 with the Bills. The Bills, in turned, grabbed the dynamic wideout, and the Browns traded back up a notch to No. 8 to take Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert.

Later, the Browns traded up from No. 26 to No. 22 to take Manziel, who conducted his introductory press conference in front of a packed house at the Browns facility Friday and was whisked off to the airport to a chorus of cheers from fans lined up on the sidewalk.

The Browns also let the second day of the draft come and go without taking a wideout to replace Gordon in the event he's kicked out. Instead, they chose Nevada offensive tackle Joel Bitonio, who has the versatility to play guard or tackle, Iowa linebacker Christian Kirksey and running back Terrence West.

The looming suspension means the Browns could be without their No. 1 wideout for the entire season -- or longer. Gordon, who was kicked out of Baylor and off the Utah football team for the marijuana violations, returned from his suspension last year to take the NFL by storm.

In 14 games, he led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards on 87 receptions and became the first player in NFL history with consecutive 200-yard receiving games. He also caught nine TD passes en route to his first Pro Bowl berth.

At minicamp last month, Gordon declined to come to the podium, but talked to reporters off to the side and said he was looking forward to another great season.

"(I have) just a lot more experience, going to the Pro Bowl, being selected All-Pro, things like that,'' he said. "It just gives you a lot more motivation, shows you that you can go out there and do it again for however many times and really just build a career and build a resume and just (receive) accolades and good things.''

Gordon, who has been a regular contributor on ESPN this season, was very public this offseason, also appearing on multiple NFL Network shows during Super Bowl week. He's also filmed commercials and made other public appearances, enjoying his newfound celebrity status.

Former Browns CEO Joe Banner considered trading Gordon last year because of the off-the-field concerns, but others in the organization weren't on board, and the Browns passed on several good offers. Banner made it clear in June that Gordon had to walk the straight and narrow, saying, "Gordon knows that the rope that's left isn't long."

Acquired in 2012's supplemental draft, Gordon knew last September when he returned to the team that not only was his future with the Browns at stake, but with the entire NFL.

“I feel like it’s a last chance opportunity for the league,'' he said. "Nobody just wants a problematic type of person in their program or their organization because of how they’re perceived to be. So I definitely want to stay away from controversy as long as I can, forever. That’s definitely my No. 1 priority."

But Gordon didn't feel the Browns should have to follow his every move.

"Nobody should be a caretaker for me at this point in my life,'' he said. "I should be seen as a grown man and have the responsibility for the actions I'm taking and I have to look at it that way. I can't expect to have to somebody there for me, to be in my ear to do this and do that. You've just got to know right from wrong.''

He said both the suspension and a speeding violation, for which he was reprimanded by the team, changed his mindset.

"It definitely has,'' he said. "Just being taken away from (the game), it's a humbling experience for me. You find an appreciation for the game. The absence of it makes the heart grow fonder in a sense. That's really what it's about for me right now.''

He said he hoped he could regain the trust of his teammates, who went 0-2 and scored only 16 points in his absence.

"I hope that the trust is still there from before,'' he said. "But it's something I'm definitely going to have to earn back I believe through making plays and showing how hard I can go out there during practice and the game, not just myself but everybody. We need to trust together and it's a big commitment thing for me and they have to see that in me."

The Browns signed two free agent receivers in the offseason, Nate Burleson and Andrew Hawkins. But hours after the Gordon news surfaced, ESPN reported that Burleson re-injured the arm he broke last year in a car accident. He underwent minor surgery to repair a plate in the arm, and is expected back by camp.

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